Changes to county tips come into force next week

Victoria Bull

Opening times and days at Herts’ household tips will change from Monday, following a public consultation during the summer.

All of Dacorum’s recycling sites will remain open five days a week, including Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, along with all others in the county except for Buntingford which will remain open seven days at reduced hours.

The other dumps will close on two of the quieter days during the week, but opening times have been co-ordinated across the county so that when your nearest site is closed, an alternative site will be available.

Next Monday will also see the introduction of a van permit scheme, which aims to reduce the misuse of the household waste recycling service by traders and other commercial users.

Van permits are free of charge for residents and are valid for 12 months, allowing one van tip per month at any of our sites. To find out more about the scheme please visit www.hertsdirect.org/wasteaware.

These changes are being implemented by contractor AmeyCespa in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council, and are hoped to bring in savings of £6million over the next eight years.

Over the last four years, savings of around £150million have been made across the council, but the authority says it needs to save a similar amount over the next four years.

Terry Douris, Cabinet Member for Waste Management, said: “Although we face serious financial pressures at the moment, by reducing the opening days and hours at our recycling centres we will be able to keep them all open.

“I appreciate that some residents didn’t want any changes to their local centres, but the fairest way of making savings is through changing the operational hours at all the sites.

“AmeyCespa has strong experience and an excellent reputation at managing centres elsewhere in the country. As well as running an efficient and cost effective service, they will be introducing new schemes over the next few months to benefit our residents.”